Car truck



Jan. 11, 1944. D. M. LIGHT 5 CAR TRUCK Filed Feb. 20. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

D. M. LIGHT Jan. 11 1944.

CAR TRUCK Filed Feb. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Llzm'aMLzghZ .BY Q

Patented Jan. 11, 1944 CAR TRUCK David M. Light, Chicago, 111., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 20, 1941, Serial No. 379,742

28 Claims.

This invention relates to railway car trucks and particularly to what is commonly designated a four wheel freight car truck wherein spaced side frames are connected by a bolster and spaced supporting wheel and axle assemblies extend between journal boxes supported at the ends of the frames.

The general object of my invention is to design a novel form of freight car truck wherein each side frame is of composite arrangement comprising a truss structure with tension and compression members and spaced columns forming a central bolster opening and spaced window openings, and certain of said tension and compression members merging at opposite ends of the rames with integrally formed journal boxes, said composite arrangement comprising also equalizer members supporting spring groups in the bolster openings on which the ends of the bolster may be carried and, in turn, supported on the spring groups mounted in the ends of the side frames adjacent the journal boxes.

An object of my invention is to design such an arrangement as that described wherein each side frame may have a plurality of spaced spring seats in the opposite ends thereof, each spring seat being positioned between the journal box and the adjacent column at each end of the frame.

Another object of my invention is a composite side frame arrangement comprising a truss structure with a central bolster opening and window openings at opposite sides thereof with a spring group supported in each of said window openings and an equalizer supported on said spring groups and extending beneath said bolster opening and supporting a bolster carrying spring group.

A different object of my invention is to devise a novel form. of truss side fram structure comprising a tension member and a compression member merging adjacent their ends with inte ral journal boxes and at intermediate points with spaced columns forming a central bolster opening andspaced window openings, said tension member having a bifurcated structure centrally thereof with inboard and outboard legs extending below said bolster opening and merging with the inboard and outboard portions of the colurnn at opposite sides thereof, and so affording a passageway for an associated equalizer member extending from one of said window opening to the other thereof between said inboard and outboard legs of said tension member.

My invention comprehends such an arrangement as that described wherein spaced side frames afford support at opposite ends thereof for equalizer members extending longitudinally of each frame, said equalizer members being formed with spring seats centrally thereof aligned with bolster openings and said side frames and on which may be carried spring groups for support of an associated bolster interlocked with said side frames.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway car truck embodying my invention, the supporting wheel and axle assemblies being omitted and only one end of the truck structure being shown, inasmuch as the arrangement is identical at opposite ends thereof.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1, only a fragmentary portion of the bolster being shown.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the side frame arrangement shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the truck structure, the section being taken substantially in the transverse vertical plane bisecting the truck and as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a further sectional view taken through the side frame structure substantially in the transverse vertical plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Describing the structure in detail, my novel car truck comprises a truss structure showin somewhat the usual outline of cast steel side frame with the compression member 2, the tension member 4, and an integral column 6 merging therewith to form the central bolster opening 8 and the window opening l0, said tension and compression members'being joined adjacent each end of the truss structure with an integrally formed journal box I2 afforded the usual means of connection to Wheel and axl assemblies (not shown).' The compression member 2 above the bolster opening 8 may be of box section as best seen in the sectional View of Figure 4 with a top web I4 and a bottom web 16, and said tension member 4 beneath'the bolster opening 8 may be of bifurcated form with the inboard leg I8 of general U-section with a top flange 20 and a bottom flange 22 and outboard leg 24 of similar section, with top flange 26 and bottom flang 28. The inboard and outboard legs l8 and 24 of the tension member thus def ne the elongated opening 30 extending longitudinally of the frame at the bottom thereof, said legs l8 and 24 converging from the central portion of the frame toward each end thereof and merging at 32 with the horizontalv transverse web 34. -At the opposite ends of the legs l8 and 24 may be formed spring positioning means 36, 35. lhe transverse web 34 serves as a spring seat on which may be positioned a spring group diagrammatically indicated at 38, the opposite side of the spring pocket 3'! being defined by the upright arcuate web 4!] (Figure extending transversely of the tension. member and merging with a diagonal web 3.2 which in turn merges with the inner wall of the adjacent journal box as at, 44 (Figure 1). The vertical webs of the inboard and outboard legs of the tension member are continuous from journal box to journal box and the inboard and outboard walls 46 and 48 (Figure 5) define in part the before mentioned spring pocket 3?. The manner in which said webs diverge slightly from each ,iournal box toward the central portion of the tension member is best shown in the bottom plan view of Figure 3, which also best illustrates the form of the before-mentioned elongated opening 30 in the bottom of the truss structure.

Supported on each spring group 38 may be a spring cap 5% having spaced downwardly projecting flanges 52, 52, serving as positioning means for the spring group 38, and on the top of said spring cap Ell may be a transverse arcuate channel forming a seat as at 54 for the adjacent end of the equalizer 56, the extremity of said equalizer being formed as a solid section of metal as best seen in the view of Figure 5. The equalizer 55 has a central box section (Figure 4) with a top chord 58, a bottom chord 6!), an outboard wall 62, and inboard wall 64. The hollow box portion of the equalizer 55 may be cored out in any manner convenient with foundry practice and the upwardly directed end portions or legs thereof may be cored away to a depth convenient for such practice and suitable for the particular application desired.

Atop the chord may be formed end spring positioning means 66 and intermediate spring means 68, 68 on which may be supported a group of springs diagrammatically designated 10, 10. As at 12 on the springs 10, may be the end of the bolster generally designated I4, said bolster having a box section end portion with a top wall 16 and a bottom wall 18, side wall 80, and the longitudinal vertical intermediate wall 82. The bolster 14 may have the usual side bearing 84 and center bearing 86 on which may be fitted the superposed car body (not shown). Each side wall 80 of the bolster is formed with an arouate outer face (Figure 2) serving as a bolster guide surface designated 88 and having slidable engagement against the adjacent complementary column guide surface 9!]. At opposite sides of the guide surface 88 the bolster is formed with inboard and outboard vertical guide lugs 92 and 94. The lower portion of the bolster opening 8 is somewhat wide as indicated at 96 (Figure 1) in order to permit the insertion therethrough of the end of the bolster which may thereafter be raised into engagement with the before-mentioned guide surfaces of the columns, after which the springs 10, 10 may be placed in position.

The transverse web of each column above the guide surface 90 may be cored away to form a transverse slot 98 and below said guide surface 90 the transverse web may also be cored away as at I90 (Figure 4) to form adequate space for the upwardly directed leg portion I62 of the equalizer. Thus the lower portion of each column is of bifurcated form.

Each window opening I!) is relatively large as compared with the usual side frame structure iii) affording convenient accessibility to the spring group at each end of the frame and to the bearing thereover on which the adjacent end of the equalizer may be supported.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, resilient means on said bottom member adjacent each end thereof, a slot in said bottom member extending between said resilient means, an equalizer in said slot comprising a central spring seat and end portions seated on said resilient means, a spring group on said seat, and a bolster in said opening seated on said group.

2. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, resilient means on said bottom member adjacent each end thereof, a slot in said bottom member extending between said resilient means, and an equalizer in said slot comprising a central spring seat beneath said opening and end portions seated on said resilient means.

In a railway car truck, a side frame having and compression members and integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening and spaced window openings, spring seats on said ten" sion member outwardly of said columns, a slot in said tension member extending between said spring seats, each of said columns having a bifurcated lower end merging with the inboard and outboard portions of the tension member at opposite sides of said slot, springs on said spring seats, an equalizer having end portions supported on said springs, upright portions extending through said bifurcated columns, and a horizontal central portion affording a spring seat at the bottom of said bolster opening, said tension member having U-section inboard and outboard legs at opposite sides of said frame.

4. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, resilient means on said bottom member adjacent each end thereof, a slot in said bottom member extending between said resilient means, and an equalizer in slot comprising a central spring seat and.

end portions seated on said resilient means, said equalizer being mounted for bodily movement vertically in said slot.

5. In a side frame structure for a railway car truck, a truss comprising tension and compression members and integral columns forming a central bolster opening and spaced window openings, an elongated slot in said tension member centrally thereof, spring seats on said tension member beneath said window openings, springs on said seats, an equalizer in said slot having its opposite ends supported on said springs, a spring group seated on said equalizer in said bolster opening, and a bolster end seated on said last-,

mentioned spring group and having guiding engagement with said columns, each of said columns having a bifurcated lower end affording passageway for a portion of said equalizer.

6. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and integral columns forming therewith a' bolster opening and spaced window openings, spring seats on said tension member outwardly of said columns, a slot in said tension member extending between said spring seats, each of said columns having a bifurcated lower end merging with the inboard and outboard portions of the tension member at opposite sides of said slot, springs on said spring seats, an equalizer in said slot having end portions supported on said springs, upright portions extending through said bifurcated columns, and a horizontal central portion affording a spring seat in said slot at the bottom of said bolster opening.

7. In a railway car truck, a side frame com- I prising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, springs on said bottom member adjacent opposite ends thereof, a slot in said bottom member extending between said springs, spring caps on respective springs, and an equalizer in said slot comprising a central spring seat beneath said opening and end portions comprising arcuate extremities rockingly seated on respective spring caps.

8. In a side frame structure for a railway car truck, a truss comprising tension and compression members and integral columns forming a central bolster opening and spaced window openings, an elongated slotin said, tension member centrally thereof, spring seats on said tension member beneath said window openings, springs on said seats, an equalizer in said slot having its opposite ends supported on said springs, a coil spring group directly seated on said equalizer in said bolster opening, and a bolster end seated on said last-mentioned spring group and having guiding engagement with said columns.

9. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having a tension member, a compression member, and integral columns forming a bolster opening and spaced window openings, spring seats on said tension member beneath said window openings, an elongated slot in said tension member extending between said seats, springs on said seats, spring caps on said springs, and an equalizer having arcuate end portions seated on said spring caps, said equalizer having upwardly directed end portions extending through the columns at opposite ends of the frame and a center portion providing a spring seat beneath said bolster opening.

10. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having tension and compression members and spaced columns forming therewith a bolster opening and window openings at opposite sides thereof, said tension member and said columns having a bifurcated formation adjacent said bolster opening, said tension member having inboard and outboard portions of U-section, an equalizer supported between the inboard and outboard portions of said columns and tension member, a spring group supported on said equalizer, and a bolster extending into said bolster opening and supported on said spring group.

11. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having tension and compression members and spaced columns forming therewith a bolster opening and window openings at opposite sides thereof, said tension member and said columns having bifurcated formation adjacent said bolster opening, an equalizer supported between the inboard and outboard portions of said columns and tension member, a spring group seated on said equalizer beneath said bolster opening, and spring group-s mounted in the ends of said side frame for support of said equalizer, said equalizer having its opposite ends positioned on said lastmentioned spring groups.

12. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having a tension member, a compression member, and integral columns forming a bolster opening and spaced window openings, spring seats on said tension member beneath said window openings, and an elongated slot in said tension member extending between said seats, springs on respective seats, and an equalizer having end portions supported on respective springs, said equalizer having upwardly directed end portions extending through columns at opposite ends of the frame and a central portion providing a spring seat beneath said bolster opening.

13. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and integral columns merging to form a central bolster opening and spaced window openings, spring seats on said tension member adjacent each end thereof, springs on said seats, caps on said springs, said tension member comprising inboard and outboard legs extending between said spring seats, and each of said columns having a bifurcated lower portion with opposite legs of U-section merging with the inboard and outboard legs of said tension member to form an elongated opening, and an equalizer positioned in said opening with ends having arcuate engagement with said caps.

14. In a side frame, top and bottom members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening and spaced windows, and spring seats on said bottom member adjacent opposite ends thereof,

said bottom member comprising inboard and outboard legs of U-section defining a slot between said seats.

15. In a side frame structure for a railway car truck, a truss comprising tension and compression members and integral columns forming a central bolster opening and spaced window openings, an elongated slot in said tension member centrally thereof and defined by inboard and outboard legs of U-section, spring seats on said tension member beneath said window openings, springs on said seats, and an equalizer having its opposite ends supported on said springs and positioned in said slot.

16. In a side frame, top and bottom members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, resilient means supported from said frame adjacent opposite ends thereof, a slot in said bottom member between said resilient means, and an equalizer member having opposite ends thereof supported from said resilient means, said equalizer member having a widened central portion of box section received within said slot and vertically movable therein, the top chord of said central portion being formed and arranged as a spring seat.

17. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having a tension member, a compression memher, and integral columns forming a bolster opening and spaced window openings, spring seats on said tension member beneath said window openings, an elongated slot in said tension member extending between said seats, springs on said seats, spring caps on said springs, and an equalizer having end portions seated on said spring caps and a central horizontal portion positioned beneath said bolster opening and formed and arranged for a spring seat.

18. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening and.

spaced window openings, spring seats on said tension member outwardly of said columns, springs on said seats, a slot in said tension member extending between said spring seats, each of said columns having a bifurcated lower end merging with the inboard and outboard portions of tension member at opposite sides of said slot, and an elongated member positioned in said slot having ends seated on said springs and having a central portion beneath said bolster opening formed for a spring seat.

19. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and integral columns merging to form a central bolster openand spaced window openings, spring seats on tension member adjacent each end thereof, spr' .gs on said seats, said tension member compi c pg inboard and outboard legs extending between said spring seats and affording an opening at. the bottom of said frame, and an equalizer in said opening with ends positioned on said springs.

20. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and integral columns merging to form a central bolster openand spaced window openings, spring seats on id tension member adjacent the ends thereof, ings on said seats, caps on said springs, said te sion member comprising inboard and outboard extending between said spring seats and affording an opening at the bottom of said frame, and an equalizer in said opening with ends positioned on respective caps.

21. In a composite side frame structure for a railway car truck, a truss member comprising top and bottom members, and spaced bifurcated columns defining therewith spaced window openings and a bolster opening, a slot in said bottom memher, and an equalizer in said slot having end portions extending through said bifurcated columns and resiliently positioned on said bottom memher, and a central portion beneath said bolster opening formed and arranged for a spring seat.

22. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame comprising top and bottom members, and spaced bifurcated columns defining therewith a bolster opening and spaced windows, a slot in said bottom member, resilient means positioned on said bottom member beneath said windows, and an equalizer in said slot having a central portion affording a spring seat beneath said opening, and upstanding end portions extending into said windows through said columns and seated on said resilient means.

In a side frame, a bottom member merging at opposite ends thereof with wheel connecting means, resilient means supported from said member adjacent opposite ends thereof, a slot in said member extending between said resilient means, and an equalizer having opposite ends thereof supported from said resilient means, said equalizer having a widened central portion of box asaasso section received Within said slot and vertically movable therein, the top chord of said'central portion being formed and arranged as a spring seat.

24. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame comprising top and bottom members, and, spaced bifurcated columns defining therewith a bolster opening and spaced windows, a slot in said bottom member and an equalizer in said slot having ends extending through said columns, resiliently supported on said bottom member, and comprising a central portion beneath said bolster opening formed and arranged for a spring seat.

25. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame comprising top and bottom members, and spaced bifurcated columns defining therewith a bolster opening and spaced windows, springs on said bettcm member beneath said windows, a slot in said bottom member between said. springs, caps on said springs, and an equalizer in said slot extending beneath said bolster opening with ends extending through said columns and having arcuate engagement with said caps.

26. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame comprising top and bottom members, and spaced bifurcated columns defining therewith a bolster opening and spaced windows, spring groups on said bottom member beneath said windows, a said bottom member extending between 1 groups, an equalizer in said slot with a hori- 359.1 central portion and end portions extendupwardly through said columns and seated on said spring groups, a spring group on said central portion, and a bolster in said bolster openmg having an end seated on said last-mentioned group.

27. In a railway car truck, a side frame including a member integrally merging with journal means at opposite ends of the frame, resilient 40 means seated on said member adjacent each end thereof, a vertical slot in said member between said resilient means, an equalizer in said slot comprising a central spring seat and end portions seated on respective of said resilient means, additional resilient means supported from said seat, and a bolster supported from said last-mentioned resilient means, said equalizer being mounted for bodily movement vertically within said slot in response to vertical movements of said bolster.

28. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising top and bottom members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, a coil spring on said bottom member adjacent each end thereof, a slot in said bottom member disposed between said springs, an equalizer in said slot comprising a central spring seat and end portions supported on said springs, resilient means on said seat in said bolster opening, and a bolster supported from said resilient means, said equalizer being mounted for bodily movement vertically in said slot.

DAVID M. LIGHT. 

